On the eve of The Gambia's forty-third independence anniversary celebration, President Dr Alhaji Yahya Jammeh on Sunday hosted a reception for President Levy Patrick Mwanawasa of Zambia and President Pedro Verona Rodrigues Pires of Cape Verde and other dignitaries at the State House grounds, Banjul.

The Vice-President, Dr Aja Isatou Njie-Saidy, the Speaker of the National Assembly, Honourable Fatoumatta Jahumpa-Ceesay, Secretaries of State, National Assembly members, members of the diplomatic and consular corp as well as other APRC supporters attended the reception.

Mbye Gaye, a mbalax star and Kabakel group entertained the crowd which lasted for over five hours.